By Alieu Amara Suwu
Hon. Robin Faley, former member of parliament and Deputy Publicity Secretary 1 of the All People Congress (APC) who has recently defected to the Sierra Leone People’s Party, has endorsed the Proportional Representation System (PR) that has been directed by President Julius Maada Bio and announced by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone for the conduction of the 2023 multi-tier elections.
Hon. Faley explained that the PR System being a system that describes an electoral system in which the distribution of seats in Parliament corresponds closely with the proportion of the total votes cast for each political party or individual, is a better system.
He noted that the system is vitally key as a necessary and reasonable option in their present democratic process, adding that it does not only provide for inclusive governance and national cohesion, but it will also enable a greater variety of candidates to be elected and also even allow more sober minded minority parties to gain representation in Parliament.
He said the PR System offers alternatives to First Past the Post and other majoritarian voting systems, which tend to be biased in favour of larger political parties or groups.
Hon. Faley furthered that the PR system tends to offer a better chance of representation to parties, groups, or even independent candidates.
He opined the PR System with a deliver fairer treatment of minority parties and independent candidates.
Stressing that under the PR System, fewer votes are wasted as more people’s preferences are considered since it potentially offers greater and more-representative choice to voters.
He forecast that if PR System is effectively used would reduce government spending of the limited resources on bye elections.
He admonished various political parties in the country to fully accept the decision of the electoral commission as being mandated by the constitution of the country.
Hon. Faley pointed out that political parties particularly the ruling SLPP to carefully listen to the views of the various constituents when preparing their party’s list of selected representatives. He added that the true choices of the people with the calibre to provide effective and efficient representation are captured to avoid weakening parliamentary representation and also weakening the link between the MP and his or her constituents.
Faley carried on to say that the PR System rarely encourages majority for one political party and would provide room for a greater consensus in policymaking.
Hon. Faley called on his former party to stop complaining; rather they should go back to the drawing board and start putting the party together for future elections since the 2023 General elections is a non-starter but an election that will be won with a landslide victory by President Bio.
